Pakistan reaching out to world against Indian atrocities: FO

Spokesperson demands New Delhi to take action against two BJP officials for their blasphemous remarks

ISLAMABAD:

The Foreign Office on Friday said Pakistan was reaching out to the international community to build a collective response against India's persecution of minorities, especially Muslims.

In his weekly news briefing in Islamabad, FO spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said he called upon India to show moral courage and unequivocally condemn the blasphemous remarks made by two senior officials of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and take visible steps to hold them accountable. “That may be a big ask in today’s ‘saffronised’ India, but this is the least that is being expected of them,” he added.

 “You have seen the strong statement from the OIC General Secretariat, the GCC, the High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilisations and many other bodies, Islamic institutions and other organisations. So this is very evident that what was done was totally unacceptable and it naturally evoked this kind of response,” he added.

Read more: Indian police file case against BJP spokeswoman over blasphemous remarks

“Pakistan has underscored that the BJP’s perfunctory and token disciplinary action against those individuals was not sufficient to assuage the pain and anguish they have caused to Muslims worldwide. Nor would any attempt to whitewash rising ‘Hindutva’ nationalism in mainstream society by calling the BJP spokesperson a ‘fringe element’ be of any avail.”

The FO spokesperson noted that in clear contrast, Pakistan, in line with its policy of promoting interfaith harmony and religious tolerance, had issued 163 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India on the eve of Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjun Dev Ji to participate in the annual festival being held in the country from June 8 to 17.

Speaking on the German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock first visit to Islamabad on the invitation of her Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the FO spokesperson said the two sides had an extensive exchange of views on various aspects of bilateral relations with a special focus on enhancing cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, climate change, and renewable energy.

Also read: Protests flare across India over Islamophobic remarks by BJP members

“In the regional context, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stressed the need for the international community to come together to address the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. On Ukraine, the foreign minister reiterated Pakistan’s principled position for immediate cessation of hostilities and for a solution to the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.”

The FO spokesperson further said the Bilawal also drew attention to the serious human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the rising tide of Islamophobia across India and risks posed by these developments to regional peace and stability.

“Unfortunately, Foreign Minister Baerbock had to cut her trip short after testing positive for COVID-19. We wish her good health and look forward to continuing strong collaboration and future high-level interactions between the two countries.”

Iftikhar further said on June 8, Iranian Ambassador, Seyed Ali Mohammad Hossenei called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who expressed his gratitude to the neighbouring country for its timely assistance in controlling the forest fire in Balochistan.

The FO spokesperson also informed the media that on Thursday, Pakistan and Azerbaijan celebrated 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, with a joint photo exhibition at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs showcasing their strong bilateral relations rooted in shared faith and value system also manifest in frequent high-level exchanges.

Updating on the situation in Ukraine, which has been invaded by Russia, the FO spokesperson said the Pakistan Embassy had shifted back to Kiev on May 31. “It remains available for all services to Pakistani nationals in Ukraine and to conduct diplomatic functions to advance our bilateral relations with [that country].”